“And he set the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king’s seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the Lord by his prophets.”
2 Chron. 29:25
“Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices… Which stood only in… carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands…”
Heb. 9:9-11
“By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
Heb. 13:15
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Subsections
Calvin
Westminster
Are Instruments Circumstances of Worship?
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Order of Contents
Intro & Where to Start?
Big Deal?
Articles 20+
Books 17+
History
Confessions 3
Quotes 20+
Instruments to Practice Singing Psalms
Do Instruments in Worship Justify Separation?
Latin 10+
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Intro & Where to Start?
Intro
Most presbyterian, congregationalist and baptist churches from the Reformation till around the late-1800’s did not use musical instruments in worship, on principle. Wonder why?
It was due to a close application of the Regulative Principle of Worship, that we are only to worship God in the way that He prescribes in Scripture. While in the Old Testament, God, through prophets, prescribed certain instruments to be played by set-apart, male Levites, 30-50 years old, only, in very specific, regulated ways in the Temple services, those carnal, Temple rites, and that which was peculiarly Levitical, have ceased (according to Hebrews) upon Christ’s coming in the New Testament era.
The Greek word used in the New Testament for exhorting us ‘to sing psalms’ (psallo), does not inherently mean to do so with instruments, and quite often does not. Further, there are no traces in the New Testament of the historic, apostolic Church using instruments in worship. Nor can instruments be held to be an aid in worship that is purely indifferent, as is demonstrated here: Are Musical Instruments Circumstances of Worship?
Thus we are left singing with ‘the fruit of our lips’ (Heb. 13:5), which is the simple, spiritual worship that is so characteristic of the New Testament.
To find out the many, detailed and cogent, Biblical reasons for the majority, reformed view of the Reformation, and to find answers for any remaining questions or objections that may yet linger in your mind, take your time in perusing the resources below; and don’t rest until your conscience is fully and intelligently satisfied before God.
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Where to Start?
Article
Williamson, G.I. – ‘Instrumental Music in Worship: Commanded or Not Commanded?’ n.d. 28 paragraphs from The Biblical Doctrine of Worship
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Book
Schwertley, Brian – Musical Instruments in the Public Worship of God Buy 1996 84 pp.
An excellent, full, Biblical defense of a capella praise. The first part of the book surveys the Regulative Principle of Worship. If you are familiar with that, and committed to it, begin at p. 32 where Schwertley brings in the question of musical instruments in the praise of God.
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Classical & Early Church History
Ferguson, Everett – A Cappella Music in the Public Worship of the Church Buy
Ferguson, a renowned early Church historian, gives the most exhaustive survey available of the ancient world, the New Testament era and the Early Church era on the Greek words for singing that are claimed to inherently imply musical instrumentation. In demonstrating that they do not, he also sets forth the dominance of a cappella singing in the early Church and the middle ages.
After all, ‘a cappella’ originally meant, ‘from the chapel’, as the chapel traditionally sang without instrumentation. While this short book is second to none on linguistics and history, it is weak on theology.
While this book is highly recommended, the distinctives of the Campbellite Churches of Christ, with which Ferguson was associated, are not. Interestingly, the Campbellites received their practice and viewpoint against musical instruments in worship from their previous Scottish presbyterian heritage.
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Reformed History
Schwertley, Brian – Musical Instruments in the Public Worship of God: the Historical Evidence Buy (2003) 19 pp.
This is an anthology of 85 quotes from church history (mostly reformed church history) demonstrating its large opposition to musical instruments in worship.
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Are Musical Instruments in Worship a Big Deal?
Quotes
Robert Candlish
as quoted in James Gibson’s, The Public Worship of God (1869), p. 107 Candlish was a leading minister in the Free Church of Scotland.
“I believe that it is a question which touches some of the highest and deepest points of Christian theology.
Is the temple destroyed? Is the temple worship wholly superseded? Have we, or have we not, priests and sacrifices among us now? Is the temple or the synagogue the model on which the Church of the New Testament is formed? Does the Old Testament itself point to anything but ‘the fruit of the lips’ [Heb. 13:15] as the peace-offering or thank-offering of gospel times? Is there a trace in the New Testament of any other mode of praise?
For my part I am persuaded that if the organ be admitted, there is no barrier, in principle, against the sacerdotal system in all its fullness — against the substitution again, in our whole religion, of the formal for the spiritual, the symbolic for the real.”
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Matthew Poole
Evangelical Worship is Spiritual Worship as it was Discussed in a Sermon (1660), pp. 13-14 Poole was an English puritan.
“II. A Voluntate Dei, ‘from the will of God’. This is the other reason: ‘For the Father seeks such to worship Him.’ [Jn. 4:23] God requires such worship and worshippers.
The foundation of this reason is this: The rule of worship is not mans fancy, but God’s will: Men’s fancies and wills are infinitely various, and therefore those that have gone that way, have been divided into a thousand varieties; they worship they know not what, as v. 22. Only God’s will is the stable rule: None knows the mind of God but the Spirit of God: Now this is the worship God requires in Gospel times.
Argument Second: From the end [design] of worship. Look what the ends of worship are, such must the worship be: And that was the reason why the Jewish worship was so much typical, because the end of it was to represent Christ; And that end being now attained, and Christ exhibited [revealed], we must consider what were and are the further ends of worship. Now the ends are of two sorts.
1. In reference to God.
2. In reference to men.
And both will show us that the worship must be spiritual.
I. In relation to God; so it is double:
1. To please God: this is finis operis & operantis too [‘the end of the work, and of working’], (if a man be sincere) Ps. 19:14, ‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight.’ Now it is only spiritual worship that can please God: That man does but little consider the nature of God, that thinks God is pleased with the bowing of the knee to an altar, no, it is the bending of the heart that God respects. It is not an organ in a church, but the organ of a gracious heart, and melody in the heart that pleases God.
2. To exalt God amongst men, to render Him glorious in the eyes of the world: Now how is that done? Do you think that it makes God glorious, when men seek to honor Him with bodily and external services? No, you cannot dishonor God more than by giving Him such a worship as begets a carnal representation of God, etc. And when God would set Himself forth in his glory, He represents Himself in a spiritual manner, and He takes them off from all corporeal thoughts and fancies: ‘God is a Spirit.’ ‘To whom will you liken Me?’ ‘You saw no shape.’ ‘God dwells not in temples made with hands.’
II. In reference to men; so the ends of worship are purely spiritual: such as these (for I can but name them) the elevation of the soul to God, and its assimilation to Him, the union of man with his Creator, the supply of the soul’s spiritual necessities, and the conduct of a sinner to glory, and all these are spiritual works, and to be done by spiritual helps, and therefore evangelical worship must be spiritual worship.”
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Articles
1500’s
Beza, Theodore – pp. 458, 464, 479-83, 493-95 in Lutheranism vs. Calvinism: The Classic Debate at the Colloquy of Montbeliard 1586 (Concordia Publishing House, 2017), ch. 4, ‘On the Reformation of Temples, Images & Organs’
Beza, at some length, here debating with Jacob Andreae (a leading Lutheran theologian), held instruments, as used by the churches in worship, to be essentially indifferent, some of the reformed finding them profitable (and using them), and some not finding them so (not using them). Beza stated that he essentially agreed with Andreae.
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1600’s
Taylor, Jeremy – pp. 329-330 of ‘Of Music in Churches’ in Rule 20, ‘Ecclesiastical laws must ever promote the service of God and the good of Souls…’ in Ch. 4, ‘Of the Power of the Church…’, section 4 in vol. 2 of Ductor Dubitantium, or, The Rule of Conscience… (London, 1660)
Taylor (1613-1667) was a well known writer and an Arminian Anglican.
Baxter, Richard – Question 127, ‘Is Church-Music by Organs or such Instruments Lawful?’ in A Christian Directory... (London: White, 1673), pt. 3, pp. 884-85
Baxter justifies “instruments… [as] being a help, partly natural and partly artificial, to the exhilerating of the spirits for the praise of God,” similar to Theodore Beza, who held them, as used by the churches, to be essentially indifferent, some of the reformed finding them profitable, and using them, and some not not using them.
For an answer to Baxter, see Mather below.
Mather, Samuel – The Figures or Types of the Old Testament, by which Christ & the Heavenly Things of the Gospel were Preached & Shadowed to the People of God of Old: Explained & Improved in Sundry Sermons (Dublin, 1683)
pp. 547-53 of ‘The Gospel of the Feast of Trumpets’
Mather (1626-1671) was a New England puritan and was the son of Richard Mather and the brother of Increase Mather.
“This cathedral music introduces to the Church of God a rabble of church-officers which the Lord never appointed, and which never came into His heart, the choristers and singing-men, and that is a very great evil. It is not in the power of men, but it is the great prerogative of Jesus Christ to appoint officers in His church who has appointed none but pastors and teachers, elders and deacons.” – p. 440
‘The Superstitious Vanity of the Popish Music in the Worship of God’, pp. 597-616
Mather here answers Richard Baxter who justified “instruments… [as] being a help, partly natural and partly artificial, to the exhilerating of the spirits for the praise of God.”
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1700’s
Edwards, John – pp. 657-8 of ‘The Third Discourse on the Ninth Article of the Creed’ in Theologia Reformata: or, The Body and Substance of the Christian Religion, vol. 1 (London, 1713)
Edwards (1637-1716) was a major reformed Anglican of his day, and this was his major body of divinity.
Pierce, James – A Tractate on Church Music: being an Extract from the Reverend and Learned Mr. Peirce’s vindication of the Dissenters (d. 1726; London, 1786)
Pierce (1674-1726), an English, dissenting minister in presbyterian and independent churches, who was adopted in his early childhood by Matthew Mead, wrote this tract, in part, to seek to prevent an organ being installed at the First Church of Boston. This piece was written before his later declension into unorthodox views of the Trinity (following George Bull).
Clarke, Jonas – The Use and Excellency of Vocal Music, in Public Worship. A sermon preached at an occasional lecture, in Lexington [Massachusetts]. Appointed to promote and encourage the divine use of vocal music, more especially in public worship… (Boston, 1770)
Clarke (1730-1805) was a New England minister and political leader who had a role in the American Revolution and in shaping the 1780 Massachusetts and the United States Constitutions.
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1800’s
Blaikie, Alexander
‘The Manner of Praise’ 1849 being ch. 3 of A Catechism of Praise
Blaikie was a minister in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARP) in Boston. The denomination was a merger in America of the Scottish Seceders and the Reformed Presbyterians. His book is a classic.
The Organ & Other Musical Instruments as Noted in the Holy Scriptures Buy (Boston: Lee & Shepard, 1865)
Dabney, Robert
‘Against Musical Instruments in Public Worship’ (1849/1888), includes 2 pieces, one a Review of Dr. John L. Girardeau’s Instrumental Music in Public Worship
Dabney was one of the last American presbyterian stalwarts that upheld the majority historic reformed view against using musical instruments in the worship of God, as instruments were minutely regulated by God’s express command in scripture and inherently tied to the OT temple administration which is now done away with.
Myers, Andrew – ‘Architect of Orthodoxy’ (2010) 11 paragraphs
Dabney, besides a pastor and theologian, was also an architect. He built multiple buildings for churches designed to keep an organ out.
Douglas, John – ‘Article IV: On Organs’ in The Southern Presbyterian Review 9, no. 2 (October 1855): 224-246
Breckinridge, R.J. – A Protest Against the Use of Instrumental Music in the Stated Worship of God 1856 12 pp.
Breckinridge was a Southern presbyterian.
Hislop, Alexander – ‘The Instrumental Music of Judaism’ 1858 2 large paragraphs being an Appendix to The Scriptural Principles of the Solemn League and Covenant, in their Bearing on the Present State of the Episcopal Churches See near the bottom of the page for the appendix. There is also a large paragraph devoted to musical instruments in worship near the beginning of ch. 1.
Hislop (1807-1865) was a minister in the Free Church of Scotland.
Brown, Hugh – ‘A Discourse Against Instrumental Music in Public Worship’ 1859 90 paragraphs
Brown (1810-1888) was a minister of the United Presbyterian Church in New York.
Robertson, W. – ‘The Organ Question’ 1868 95 paragraphs
This pamphlet is the substance of two lectures given in connection with the agitation by some in order to introduce an organ into the worship of God. In 1873, five years after these lectures, the pro-organ party carried the day and an organ was introduced into the worship of Coupland Street United Presbyterian Church, Manchester, England.
Adger, John Bailey – ‘Article V: A Denial of Divine Right for Organs in Worship’ in The Southern Presbyterian Review 20, no. 1 (January 1869): 69-104
Gibson, James – ‘Instrumental Music’ (1869) 23 pp. being a chapter from his The Public Worship of God
This chapter argues against the introduction of musical instruments in the public worship of the Free Church of Scotland (for which church Gibson was a systematic theology professor). He critiques Robert Candlish and Robert Buchanan who left the matter as an open question.
Johnson, Robert – A Discourse on Instrumental Music in Public Worship (Burlington, Iowa: Osborn, Snow & Co., 1871)
Johnson (1810-1879) was a minister in the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Iowa. This is an extremely well reasoned defense of the anti-instrumentalist position in which he engages several well known objections and examines the plausibility of the arguments of those who would introduce these instruments into the worship of God.
Hutcheson, R. – Instrumental Music in New Testament Worship, pt. 1, 2, 3 (1872) in The Reformed Presbyterian & Covenanter
Begg, James, the Younger
The Use of Organs and other Instruments of Music in Christian Worship Indefensible Buy 1866 271 pp.
‘Instrumental Music in Christian Worship Unlawful’ Buy 1870 24 pp. Here is a review in the Original Secession Magazine
Begg the younger was a leading constitutionalist in the Free Church of Scotland.
‘Special Duties & Dangers of the Free Church of Scotland’ being the closing address of Free Church Presbyterianism There is a subsection on ‘NEW STRUGGLE FOR PURITY OF WORSHIP — INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC’ about 2/5 the way down the page
Nevin, Robert – Instrumental Music in Christian Worship: A Review Chiefly in the Way of Reply to Professor Wallace Buy 16 pp. Here is an excerpt. Here is a review.
Peck, Thomas – ‘Liturgies, Instrumental Music and Architecture’ in Miscellanies, vol. 1 American, southern presbyterian
Wishart, William – ‘Psallo’ 1882 32 paragraphs from the Evangelical Repository
Wishart (1821-1906). This article examines the claims of proponents of musical instruments in worship taken from the meaning of the Greek word ‘psallo’. Dr. Wishart explains why psallo does not provide Biblical support for the use of mechanical instruments of worship.
A Disruption Elder – ‘The Organ Question Critically Examined’ 1884 12 pp.
The author was an elder during the Disruption of 1843 where the Free Church of Scotland continued as the legal and spiritual heir of the Church of Scotland from the Reformation. The late-1800’s saw musical instruments starting to come into the Free Church, till they were later excised in the events of 1900.
Kennedy, John – The Introduction of Instrumental Music into the Worship of the Free Church Unscriptural, Unconstitutional and Inexpedient n.d. 29 paragraphs
M’Donald, John – Instrumental Music in Religious Worship n.d. 4 pp.
M’Donald (1843-1933) was a minister in the Reformed Presbyterian Synod, which published this tract in the 19th century.
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1900’s
George, Robert J.
‘Instrumental Music a Corruption of New Testament Worship’ (Pittsburgh: The Witness Committee of the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, n.d. [1910?])
Lecture XV, ‘Is the Use of Instrumental Music in the Worship of God Authorized?’
Lecture XVI, ‘Historical Argument against Instrumental Music in the Worship of God’
Lecture XVII, ‘Instrumental Music in Worship, & Our Church Standards’
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2000’s
Freeman, Brad – ‘Why not Instruments in Worship?’ (2014) 7 pp.
Rev. Freeman is a minister in the Presbyterian Reformed Church in America.
Watkins, K.M. – ‘Musical Instruments in Worship’ n.d. 11 pp.
Rev. Watkins is a Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland minister. This is a transcript of a lecture on ‘An historical and biblical survey of musical instruments in Christian worship’.
Clark, R. Scott – ‘Is the Organ God’s Gift to Worship?’ 2013 34 paragraphs
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Books
1600’s
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1700’s
Owen (1654-1706) was an English puritan minister who ran in Independent and presbyterian circles. He translated Westminster’s Shorter Catechism into Welsh. His funeral sermon was preached by Matthew Henry.
Anonymous – An Essay Upon the Sacred Use of Organs in Christian Assemblies (1713) 74 pp. with a Preliminary Discourse on Ritualism by Robert Williamson, 1865
A very instructive essay which explains the rise of the use of musical instruments and the reason their use was discontinued in the best Reformed churches.
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1800’s
The Organ Question: Statements of Dr. Ritchie and Dr. Porteous, For and Against the Use of the Organ in Public Worship in the Procedings of the Presbytery of Glasgow, 1807-1808 with an Introductory Notice by Robert Candlish of the Free Church of Scotland
Porteous, on p. 27 argues (for 48 pp.) against the organ.
Dictionary of Scottish Church History and Theology, ‘Musical Instruments in Worship’, p. 616:
“The first recorded incident of a musical instrument being used in Presbyterian worship [in Scotland since the Reformation] was in 1807, when William Ritchie, minister of St. Andrew’s Church, Glasgow, introduced a chamber organ. The Lord Provost of the city reported the matter to the presbytery, which declared organ music in worship to be ‘contrary to the law of the land, and to the law and constitution of our Established Church’ (quoted R.S. Candlish, The Organ Question, E, 1856, 26).”
Hector Cameron in ed. Graham, Crown Him Lord of All, p. 65
“There was a remarkable degree of theological opposition to musical instruments in worship, among Disruption men [of the Free Church of Scotland], as distinct from a merely traditional conviction that the old way of things was better. This was party due, there can be no question, to the publication by Dr. Candlish in 1856 of Dr. Porteous’s able defence–in the name of the Glasgow Presbytery–of the Reformed objection to instrumental music in worship. Dr. Porteous was replying to the action of the St. Andrew’s Congregation in Glasgow, who had in 1807, without even consulting Presbytery, installed an organ in their church. Candlish’s warm introductory commendation of the book sent it on its way with superbly attractive credentials, especially for the emerging generation of Free Churchmen.
Porteous drew substantially on the view of the Reformers, although he conducted a wider and very informative historical study of the subject. Luther is quoted as exclaiming that ‘organs are among the ensigns of Baal! [p. 44, quoted by Eckhard in Vide Eckhard Fasciculus Contra Tho.] Calvin’s opinions are extensively consulted… The younger Disruption men were directed back to their origins with undoubtedly good effect.”
Begg, James, the Elder – A Treatise on the Use of Organs and Other Instruments of Music in the Worship of God, in which it is Inquired Whether Instrumental Music be Authorized by God in the Worship of the New Testament Church, and by the Constitution and Laws of the Established Church of Scotland 1808 56 pp. The table of contents is on what would be p. 13.
Begg the Elder, a minister in the Church of Scotland, was the father of the more well known James Begg the Younger who was a Disruption Worthy and minister and constitutionalist leader in the Free Church of Scotland.
A Statement of the Proceedings of the Presbytery of Glasgow Relative to the Use of an Organ in St. Andrew’s Church in the Public Worship of God 1807 300 pp. Here is the American Edition with a unique Preface and Appendix.
Adamson, John – The Unlawfulness of Instrumental Music in the Worship of God: Stated in a Letter to a Friend in Defence of A Few Candid Reasons… , Against the Mistakes and Representations of Mr. J. Bedford… 1823 102 pp.
Christie, George – The Use of Instrumental Music in the Public Worship of God 1867 24 pp. printed in Nova Scotia, Canada. The work is in the form of a dialogue
Canada Presbyterian Church – The Organ Question: Line upon Line, or Instrumental Music in Presbyterian Churches; Reports of Discussions in the Courts of the Canada Presbyterian Church in 1867 1868 60 pp.
Johnson, Robert – A Discourse on Instrumental Music in Public Worship 1871
Johnson was a minister in the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Iowa.
Robb, J. Gardner – Christian Worship, Praise Pure and Perfect Without Instrumental Music: A Review of the Pamphlet by Professor Wallace, Entitled, Instrumental Music: Its Place in the Worship of God the Same Under All Dispensations 1872 48 pp.
Kerr, James – The Fruit of Our Lips: Instrumental Music an Unscriptural Addition to the Service of Praise 1877 Here is the work’s outline.
Proceedings of the Convention of United Presbyterians Opposed to Instrumental Music in the Worship of God 1883 170 pp.
This book is excellent, and is worth reading through. Wit the onset of organs coming into churches, in 1880, legislation failed to pass to outlaw musical instruments from the Church’s public worship. At the General Assembly in the spring of 1883, it was ruled that instruments were an ‘incident’, or circumstance of worship, which need not be proved by God’s Word.
This convention by the conservatives was held in August to continue the protests that were petitioned at the foresaid Assembly. The addresses and results were published in book form.
Table of Contents
Proceedings of the United Presbyterian Convention 3
History of the Doctrine & Service of Praise as it Relates to the U.P.C. – G.C. Vincent 9
The History of the Introduction of Instruments in the Reformed Churches – W.W. Barr 20
The Exclusiveness of Divine Authority – J.G. Carson 37
What the Grounds of Convictions? Can We Yield Them? – D.S. Littell 46
Powers & Duties of the General Assembly – D.S. Kennedy 56
The Judgment of the Church in 1882 on Instrumental Music – D.N. Dick 71
Reason Why We Should Not Take a Step Toward Ritualism – S.F. Marrow 77
The Simplicity of Worship Required in the New Testament Church – D.W. Carson 84
Instrumental Worship not an Incident of Worship – James Harper 102
Forbearance in Love. When Applicable? – James Lytle 119
Actualities and Possibilities of Mischief in the U.P.C. – R.A. Browne 132
Our Only Need as a Church for Mission Work – James Brown 141
Summary of Arguments Against Instrumental Music in the Testament Worship – William Wishart 150
Report of Committee on Resolutions 157
M’Ewan, John – Instrumental Music: A Consideration of the Arguments For and Against its Introduction into the Worship of the Free Church of Scotland 1883 with a preface by George Smeaton
Rev. John M’Ewan was minister of John Knox Free Church in Edinburgh.
Girardeau, John – Instrumental Music in the Public Worship of the Church Buy (1888) 208 pp.
The classic book length Biblical defense against musical instruments in worship. This was written at a time when the presbyterian churches were capitulating to Anglican worship practices. Girardeau was one of the last of the faithful ministers to uphold the old historic reformed view and practice.
Glasgow, James – Heart & Voice: Instrumental Music in Christian Worship not Divinely Authorized n.d. 275 pp. Here is a review.
Glasgow was an Irish presbyterian, professor of oriental languages, and at one time a missionary with Alexander Kerr to India. He also wrote a commentary on the book of Revelation.
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1900’s
Kurfees, M.C. – Instrumental Music in the Worship, or the Greek Verb ‘Psallo’ Philologically & Historically Examined (1911) 128 pp.
While the information in this book is very useful, Kurfees was a leader in the Campbellite Churches of Christ, whose distinctives in general are not recommended. Interestingly though, the Campbellites received their practice and viewpoint against musical instruments in worship from their previous Scottish presbyterian heritage.
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2000’s
Price, John – Old Light on New Worship: Musical Instruments & the Worship of God, a Theological, Historical & Psychological Study Buy 2005 256 pp.
Price is a reformed baptist. Here is a review by Geoff Thomas.
“I enthusiastically recommend this book on congregational worship. It is a great relief to have access to a scholarly modern examination of the question… For clarity and fulness of treatment, yet at the same time for courtesy and pastoral wisdom, this short study on an aspect of the regulative principle is first-class. I highly recommend it to church members as well as to ministers of the gospel.” – Maurice Roberts
Prutow, Dennis – Joyful Voices: A Capella Singing in Congregational Worship Buy n.d. 132 pp.
Prutow is a professor at Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, in Pittsburgh, PA.
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The History of Instruments in Worship
Early & Medieval Church
Book, Highly Recommended
Ferguson, Everett – A Cappella Music in the Public Worship of the Church Buy
Ferguson, a renowned early Church historian, gives the most exhaustive survey available of the ancient world, the New Testament era and the Early Church era on the Greek words for singing that are claimed to inherently imply musical instrumentation. In demonstrating that they do not, he also sets forth the dominance of a cappella singing in the early Church and the middle ages.
After all, ‘a cappella’ originally meant, ‘from the chapel’, as the chapel traditionally sang without instrumentation. While this short book is second to none on linguistics and history, it is weak on theology.
While this book is highly recommended, the distinctives of the Campbellite Churches of Christ, with which Ferguson was associated, are not. Interestingly, the Campbellites received their practice and viewpoint against musical instruments in worship from their previous Scottish presbyterian heritage.
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Collections of Quotes
Schwertley, Brian – pp.1-3 of Musical Instruments in the Public Worship of God: the Historical Evidence Buy (2003)
Schwertley quotes Clement, Origin, Eusebius, John Chrysostom, Isidore, Augustine, Nicea, Theodoret, Thomas Aquinas, Cornelius Agrippa & Erasmus.
Quotes Concerning Use of Instrumental Music in Worship n.d. 7 quotes from the Early & Medieval Churches, with 63 quotes from other time periods and scholars. Note that this document is hosted the sect, Church of Christ, otherwise known as Campbellites, or, the Restoration movement.
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Articles
1800’s
Wilson, James P. – ‘A Brief History Of Instruments In Worship’ (1815) 15 paragraphs Wilson was the editor of Thomas Ridgley’s, A Body of Divinity (Philadelphia, 1814). These are his footnotes on vol. 4, pp. 85–88 on Q. #154. Ridgley also held that musical instruments have been abolished, as is explicit in the same section, but especially on p. 88.
Schaff, Philip – ‘The Organ and the Bell’ †1893 in History of the Church, vol. 4, ch. 10, pp. 439-442
Porteous, The Organ Question, pp. 40-43
Porteous gives quotes from Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Basil, Chrysostom, Jerome, and Augustine.
Begg, James, the elder – ‘Section III – Inquiry into the Period of the Christian Church when Organs began to be Used in the Worship of God’ 1808 6 pp.
Glasgow, James – ‘Early Opinions’ & ‘Later Opinions’ n.d. 8 pp. in Heart and Voice
Kurfees, M.C.
Ch. 14, ‘Testimony of Specialists, Encyclopedists, Historians and Commentators’ 1911 25 pp. in Instrumental Music in the Worship, or the Greek Verb ‘Psallo’ Philologically and Historically Examined, pp. 69-94
Ch. 12, ‘The Claim Concerning Clement and Ambrose’ 1911 7 pp. in Instrumental Music in the Worship, or the Greek Verb ‘Psallo’ Philologically and Historically Examined, pp. 59-65
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Quotes
What about the Occasional Positive Reference to Musical Instruments in the Church Fathers?
Everett Ferguson, A Cappella Music in the Public Worship of the Church, 2013, pp. 77, 81
“Granting that we are denied the omniscience which would permit us to say instruments were never employed in the early church’s worship, we can say that one is hard pressed to find a reference to it. Cognizance is now to be taken of some statements which have been appealed to as evidence that instruments were used in the early church…
[Dr. Ferguson analyzes 5 pages of primary source documentation]
By far the largest number of passages which may be cited for a favorable attitude on the part of the church fathers to certain instruments come from passages where instruments are used as an illustration of harmony or where an allegorical interpretation is given. We have seen how Ignatius of Antioch used the strings of an instrument as an illustration of the church’s unity. Such is fairly frequent and says nothing more about the church’s practice than any other illustration drawn from contemporary culture.”
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What about the Argument that because the Early Church Fathers Denounced Musical Instruments in Worship, therefore there must have been some Musical Instruments in the Worship of the Early Christians?
Everett Ferguson, A Cappella Music in the Public Worship of the Church, 2013, pp. 88-89
“They [the ancient church fathers generally] give an explicit condemnation to instrumental music. Sometimes such outbursts are taken as a proof that instruments were being used, at least by some Christians, in public worship. The principle is that what somebody opposes, somebody is doing.
In this case the inference goes to far. There is no polemic against instruments in church. That is not under consideration. The condemnations are of the use of instruments at social functions – banquets, the theater, and other entertainments of pagan society – and in idolatrous worship.
In view of the violent response to the immoral uses of instruments in social life and their cultic use in pagan religion, it becomes incredible that the instrument was present in the worship of the church. That surely would have brought condemnation, or at least called for explanation. But there is not even a comment to this effect.”
[Dr. Ferguson then goes on to document this for about 7 pages of analysis of primary source quotes.]
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When did Musical become Common in Christian Worship?
The Oxford History of Christian Worship, ch. 30, ‘Liturgical Music’, pp. 771-772
“Only during the high and late Middle Ages (1100-1450) did any instrumental musicians gain a significant liturgical role. Organists, in particular, acquired a firm liturgical role, but only in the West. During this period organs gradually became a normal furnishing in many large monastic houses and large churches.
Toward the end of the period (possibly as early as the late thirteenth century) some form of playing the organ in alternatum with the clerical or monastic choir developed. In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries specific injunctions against playing any instruments other than the organ begin to appear, showing that they also were occasionally used.
Thus by the end of the fourteenth century or beginning of the fifteenth century, the full range of musical roles that is in use in the early-twenty-first century had emerged in the liturgy…”
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Individual Quotes of the Early Church Fathers
Clemens Alexandrinus (Pedag. Lib. 2, p. 164)
“Praise him upon psaltery, for the tongue is the psaltery of the Lord: And praise him with harps. By the harp we are to understand the mouth which is played upon by the bow or quill of the Spirit. Praise him with strings and the organ; for he calls the body the organ, and the nerves of it strings, which being played upon by the Spirit sends forth human sounds.
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Chrysostom (on Psalm 150)
“As therefore the Jews did praise the Lord with all instruments, so we are in like manner commanded to glorify God with our members.”
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Isidore Pelusiota
Lib. 1, Epist. 457 on Ps. 150
“If ye seek an explication of that musick which the scripture speaks of, understand it after this manner, praise ye the Lord in the sound of the trumpet, that is, in the memory of the resurrection, which will be with a trumpet. As it is written, praise him with the psaltery and the harp, that is with the tongue and mouth struck upon by the Spirit as with a bow or quill. Praise him with the timbrel and the dance, that is with the body and spirit from whence prayers pass to God, praise him with the strings and organ, that is with the heart and all the inward parts, and the nerves which truly he calls the organ. Praise him with the parts, and the nerves which truly he calls the organ. Praise him with the loud sounding cymbals, that is with the lips.
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Lib. 2, Epist. 176
“If the Divine BEING, by reason of their Childishness in which they then were, did allow ‘em to offer Sacrifices; why do you wonder that he also allowed ‘em that Musick which is performed by the Harp and Psaltery?”
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Theodoret (Comment. on Ps. 32:2-3)
“All these things (saith he) were performed according to the legal worship; for they made use of harps, and cymbals, and timbrels, and other musical instruments, and these things spoken of them agree to us, if they be understood spiritually: And we may render ourselves an harmonious organ to GOD, and praise GOD by the instruments of all the senses, as well internal as external.”
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The Reformation
Collections of Quotes
Schwertley, Brian – Musical Instruments in the Public Worship of God: the Historical Evidence Buy 2003 19 pp.
This is an anthology of 85 quotes from church history (mostly reformed church history) demonstrating its large opposition to musical instruments in worship.
Porteous, The Organ Question, pp. 43-7
Porteous gives quotes from Pareus, Zepperus, Molerus, Erasmus, Luther, Beza, Calvin and the Church of England.
Glasgow, James – ‘Later Opinions’ n.d. 9 pp. in Heart & Voice
Glasgow, amongst others, cites Luther, Calvin, Calderwood, Bullinger, Zanchius, Osiander, Perkins, Andrew Fuller & Thomas Scott.
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Quote
Oxford Encyclopedia of the Reformation, vol. 3, pp. 104,108
“Of all the arts, none was of greater concern to the leading reformers than music…
Instrumental music and the liturgy.
The Western church has employed some form of instrumental music in its rites since the late Middle Ages, but before 1500 only the organ has solid documentary evidence for its widespread and accepted use. In these instances it participated actively in the liturgy but did not normally accompany singing..
Where the Reformed tradition was influential, drastic reduction or total elimination of organ music occurred. The former was largely true for much of England, except apparently in the Chapel Royal; the latter, of course, was typical in regions of strict Reformed observance…”
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France
The First Protestant Administration of the Lord’s Supper, 1534
J.A. Wylie, The History of Protestantism, vol. 2, p. 179
“It was at Poietiers that the evangelisation of France began in a systematic way. The school which Calvin here gathered round him comprehended persons in all conditions of life… They discoursed about Divine mysteries as they walked together on the banks of the neighboring torrent, the Clain, or as they assembled in the garden of the Basses Treilles, where… they often held their re-unions…
By-and-by it was thought prudent to discontinue these meetings in the Basses Treilles, and to seek some more remote and solitary place of re-union. A deep and narrow ravine… then known as the ‘Cave of Benedict,’ but which from that day to this has borne the name of “Calvin’s grotto,” was selected as the scene of the future gatherings of the converts. It was an hour’s walk from the town…
In this grotto, so far as the light of history serves, was the Lord’s Supper celebrated for the first time in France after the Protestant fashion. On an appointed day the disciples met here, and Calvin, having expounded the Word and offered prayer, handed round the bread and cup, of which all partook… The place had none of the grandeurs of cathedral, but ‘the glory of God and the Lamb’ lent it beauty. No chant of priest, ‘no swell of organ accompanied the service, but the devotion of contrite hearts, in fellowship with Christ, was ascending from that rocky chamber, and coming up before the throne in heaven.”
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The English Puritans
The Westminster Confession & Musical Instruments in Worship
Quotes
J.A. Wylie, The History of Protestantism, vol. 3, p. 462
The Marian exiles [who fled England from Bloody Mary] had contracted a love for the simple polity and worship that existed in the Reformed Churches of Switzerland, Geneva, and some parts of Germany, and on their return to England they sought to establish the same order in their native land. Aiming at this greater purity and simplicity, they were styled Puritans.
In the famous Convocation of the Lower House of 1562 [which established the 39 Articles close to their final form], the Puritan party were the majority of those present, but they were out-voted by proxies on the other side. In that assembly they contended for the abrogation of vestments [clergy robes], copes, surplices, and organs in Divine worship; against lay baptism, and the sign of the cross in baptism…
Some of the greatest names in the Church of England of that day were friendly to the reform pleaded for by the Puritans. Among others, Grindal, Horn, Sandys, Jewell, Parkhurst and Bentham shared these sentiments… The aim of the Puritans, beyond doubt, was to perfect the Reformation which [Thomas] Cranmer had left incomplete.
The more eminent of [Queen] Elizabeth’s ministers of State were substantially with the Puritan party… friendly to yet greater reform in the Church of England… The main difficulty lay with the queen. One of her leading aims was the reconcilement of English Papists… she loved splendour in worship…
Horton Davies, Worship and Theology in England, from Cranmer to Baxter and Fox, 1534-1690, p. 530-1
A second characteristic of Puritan worship was its utter simplicity and sincerity. This unostentatious and modest form of worship found its appropriate domestic setting in meeting-houses… The Puritans refused to
let the pealing organ blow
To the full-voiced quire below
In service high and anthems clear…
in favour of the pedestrian metres of the Psalms so that all could memorize them and sing them in unison… their sense of holiness in approaching God was so strong that they could do without any theatrical or adventitious aids which would make tawdry the splendour of the Creator’s covenant mercies to his own.
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Scotland
See also ‘Instrumental Music in Worship’ on the page, ‘Special Topics in the History of Scottish Worship’.
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Quotes
Dictionary of Scottish Church History & Theology, ‘Musical Instruments in Worship’, pp. 615-16
“The Scottish Reformation saw the discontinuance of the later medieval practice of instrumental music in church worship. In line with Reformed teaching, this practice was seen as a breach of the ‘regulative principle’ – that the constituent parts of Christian worship must be authorized by New Testament precept or example. Consequently instrumental music in worship was ‘unknown in the [Scottish] Church since the Reformation’ (T. Leishman, ‘The Ritual of the Church of Scotland’, in The Church of Scotland Past and Present, ed. R.H. Story, V, 423). Unaccompanied singing led by a precentor became the norm in Presbyterian Scotland.
The first recorded incident of a musical instrument being used in Presbyterian worship was in 1807, when William Ritchie, minister of St. Andrew’s Church, Glasgow, introduced a chamber organ. The Lord Provost of the city reported the matter to the presbytery, which declared organ music in worship to be ‘contrary to the law of the land, and to the law and constitution of our Established Church’ (quoted R.S. Candlish, The Organ Question, E, 1856, 26). A similar incident took place in the Relief Church [of Scotland] in 1829, with similar results (see G. Struthers, The History of the Rise, Progress and Principles of the Relief Church, G, 1843. 442-3).
The first organ ever authorized in the worship of a Scottish Presbyterian or Congregational church seems to have been in the North Dundas Street Evangelical Union Church, Glasgow, in 1851. Organs also began to make their appearance in Congregational Union churches around this period, championed by W. Lindsay Alexander [a congregationalist professor, not entirely orthodox in doctrine].
In the CoS [Church of Scotland] the question was reopened in 1863, when Robert Lee introduced a harmonium into Old Greyfriars, Edinburgh, and then in 1865 an organ, as part of his liturgical reform programme. Much opposition was aroused, but the General Assembly effectively authorized the practice in 1866 by remitting such matters to the discretion of Presbyteries. The ‘organ movement’ gathered momentum, and by the 1870’s the use of an organ in worship had ceased to be an innovation as far as the CoS was concerned.
The most vigorous debate on the subject took place in the FCS [Free Church of Scotland]. When two Glasgow congregations petitioned the Assembly of 1882 for the liberty to use organs, James Begg submitted a formal protest, indicative of his view that such a step would be unconstitutional. Begg and the Constitutionalists held to the old Reformed position that instrumental music in worship was precluded by the regulative principle…”
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M’Crie, C.G., Public Worship of Presbyterian Scotland, 1892, p. 337
“That plea [of Dr. Robert Lee, that his innovations were simply restorations of previous worship in Scotland], however, he did not advance, as indeed it was not possible for him to advance it, in defense of one of the changes he introduced into Old Greyfriars in 1863, when instrumental music was employed at the public diets of worship…
…even the warmest sympathizers with Dr. Lee are ready to admit that instrumental music had been unknown in the Ecclesia Scotticana from the era of the Reformation.¹
¹ “…every candid person must admit that most of the changes which can be traced to his action had the Church’s sanction in some earlier period of her history. An exception was the use of instrumental music. It had been unknown in the Church since the Reformation, for uniformity can hardly be said to have been broken by the tentative use of it on one or to occasions in the Chapel Royal [for when the royalty of England visited] or the Glasgow Church [in 1807 & 1851]…” – Dr. [Thomas] Leishman, ut sup., p. 423″
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Articles
Todd, Margo – p. 71 in The Culture of Protestantism in Early Modern Scotland (Yale University Press, 2002)
Thomson, Elizabeth – ‘The Impetus Given to the Use of Instrumental Music in Scottish Churches by the Visit of Moody & Sankey to Scotland in 1873-71’ Scottish Church History Society (2006)
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The Netherlands
Article
Bruinsma, Henry – ‘The Organ Controversy in the Netherlands’ Reformation to 1640′ Ref in Journal of the American Musicological Society, vol. 7, no. 3 (Autumn, 1954), pp. 205-212
In 1564, the Synod of Dordrecht required that “the playing of the organ in the church… must be entirely abolished.” But four years later the same Synod was still having to plead that “the organs, which have been tolerated for a time, must by all means be removed from the church.”
The 1581 National Synod of Middleburg and the 1594 Synod of Holland and Zeeland resolved “to obtain of the magistrate the laying aside of organs, and the singing with them in the churches, even out of the time of worship, either before or after sermons: so far are those Synods from bearing with them in the worship itself.”
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America
Myers, Andrew
‘From A Cappella to Accompaniment: The 19th Century Journey of Southern Presbyterians’ (2019) 16 paragraphs
Myers gives the fullest survey yet of the decline of a cappella singing through American presbyterian history.
‘The History of Instruments in American Churches’ (2009) being 3 large quotes from historians/authors
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Baptists
Shifferd, Scott – ‘Charles Spurgeon Differs from Today’s Baptists on Church Music’ 2008 9 paragraphs, with a quote from Andrew Fuller also
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Confessions
Hungarian (2)
The Hungarian Confessio Catholica, 1562
ed. Dennison, Jr., Reformed Confessions of the 16th and 17th Centuries in English Translation, vol. 2, pp. 565-6
“Concerning Musical Organs
It is certain that in the ancient church and in Solomon’s temple, the use of musical instruments was accepted. Now that Christ has come, and together with the ancient priesthood and sacrifice and the representation appertaining to the Law, the use of instruments in churches has vanished like a shadow.
For the various instruments of the musicians symbolized the parts and members of the elect, i.e., that the elect must worship the Lord with heart, soul, word and in every way. Thus David mentions every kind of instrument so that man may glorify God with all his strength, mind and members. He must speak and sing in the assembly with delight from the soul.
For Paul would not only disapprove of the use of crude instruments, but does not permit in the church incomprehensible human words and singing that lacks edifying force; indeed, he calls them mindless that teach and sing in the assembly like barbarians in unfamiliar languages (1 Cor. 14). The fathers teach the same.
There is not so much as a reference to the organ in the New Testament, nor of its introduction into the purer church; but it was only introduced in theatrical Masses, as if in obscene sport, by immoral priests to make clowns cut capers. The papal chronicles attribute its introduction to Pope Vitalian [†672]. The resolutions of the councils, together with Jerome, condemn the stentorian noise in churches of persons shouting in theatrical fashion (Amos 5, 6).
In the prophets, the Lord prohibits the playing of the harp and organs, and commands that teaching be done with the human voice, not with shadows and tricks. Therefore, they do wrong that mumble foolishly before God the canonical hours as if superstitiously chattering to themselves something of merit in the process, and who keep an organ in the sacred assembly like papists and others. What my father has not planted will be rooted out (Matt. 15:13)…”
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Documents of the Debrecen Synod, 1567
ed. Dennison, Jr., Reformed Confessions of the 16th and 17th Centuries in English Translation, vol. 3, pp. 1 & 111
Introduction to these Documents
“Three documents emerged from this synod, perhaps the most important in the history of the Reformed church in northern and eastern Hungary… the documents of this synod are the formal basis of the constitution of the Hungarian Reformed communion.”
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“Article 17
The musical instruments, however, adopted for the pantomime (saltatrici) Mass of Antichrist, together with images, we abhor. There is no use for them in the church, and indeed they are marks and occasions of idolatry.”
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German (1)
The Nassau Confession, 1578
ed. Dennison, Jr., Reformed Confessions of the 16th and 17th Centuries in English Translation, vol. 3, p. 515
“Latin Songs and Organs
Latin songs, as well as organs (first introduced into the churches by Pope Vitellianus about 665) are for the most part abolished in the churches of this land…
But it is more profitable and more edifying when in the public assemblies, the prayer, singing, and the whole of the service of worship is performed in a known and intelligible language so that the common man is able to retain something from it, and to say Amen…
So also the superfluous and unbeneficial costs expended on organs are much better directed to other necessary causes in the maintenance of churches and schools.”
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Individual Quotes
For sizable collections of quotes in addition to this, and for more individual quotes, see in the sections above.
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Order of Quotes
Aquinas
Calvin
Beza
Rainolds
Baynes
Ames
Scottish Commissioners
Baillie
Rutherford
Gillespie
Cotton
Leigh
Poole
Owen
Annesley
Cameron
Renwick
Henry
Mather
Edwards
Gill
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Theodore Beza
As quoted by Dr. Porteous, The Organ Question, p. 45
“If the apostle justly prohibits the use of unknown tongues in the Church, much less would he have tolerated these artificial musical performances, which are addressed to the ear alone, and seldom strike the understanding, even of the performers themselves.”
John Rainolds 1598
Paul Baynes †1618
Rev. Joel Beeke has cited Baynes as an example of a puritan (against the majority thereof) that condoned an organ in worship, from his commentary on Eph. 5:20. The first and second editions of this work (1645 & 1647) contain this passage. The 3rd edition of 1658, however, does not, lending some doubt as to the original text. For other factors involved, see this discussion at the Puritan Board.
William Ames 1633
The Scottish Commissioners to the Westminster Assembly 1644
Robert Baillie 1644
Samuel Rutherford 1644, 1646
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Samuel Rutherford
Divine Right of Church Government (1646), Question 3, ‘Whether Ceremonies Have any Divinity in Them’
p. 132
“6. The Word is God’s mean to work supernatural effects, to convert the soul, Ps. 19:7, to work faith, Jn. 20:3, to edify, Acts 20:32, to save, Rom. 1:16. The obedience to God’s Word, brings peace, Ps. 119:165, comfort, v. 50; Gen. 49:18; Isa. 38:3. But ceremonies, being apt to stir up the dull mind, must be apt to remove natural dullness, which is a supernatural effect, and so to bring, peace, joy, comfort:
Organs are now holden by the same right, that they were in Moses’ Law, then they must stir up supernatural joy: There must be peace and comfort in practicing them. Hear how this sounds: ‘This is my comfort, O Lord, in my affliction, that thy surplice, organs, and holy-days have quickened my dull heart.’ Now what comfort [is there], except comfort in the Scriptures? Rom. 15:4. Ceremonies be innocent of all Scriptures [have nothing of the Scriptures in them].
What joy (a proper fruit of the Kingdom of Heaven, Rom. 14:17) can be in sapless ceremonies? Yea, observe:
1. Who truly converted from Popery, who [is] inwardly humbled in soul, does not abhor ceremonies by the instinct of the new birth?
2. What slave of hell and profane person call not for ceremonies?
3. Who has peace in dying that ceremonies were their joy?
7. All lawful ordinances may by prayer be recommended to God for a blessed success as all the means of salvation, Ps. 119:18; Mt. 26:26; Acts 4:29-30.
2. We may thank God for a blessed success, which they have by the working of the spirit of Grace, 2 Cor. 2:24; 1 Cor. 1:4-5; 2 Thess. 1:2-3; Eph. 1:3.
3. We are to have heat of zeal against profaning of Word, sacraments, prayer, or other ordinances of God…”
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p. 136
“Lastly, God’s spirit works not with ceremonies, and so they are as the offering of swines’ blood and the slaying of a man; and so abomination to God, Isa. 66:3.
2. The Holy Spirit is merited to us by Christ, Jn. 16:14, “He shall receive of mine and show unto you”: but who can say that the grace of joy in the Holy Ghost, wrought by the droning of organs and the holiness taught by surplice, is a work of the spirit merited by Christ as our High Priest?
3. God has made no promise that He will work by ceremonies, for the Spirit works not without the Word; so then I might resist the working of the Spirit and not sin against the Word; and this is Anabaptists’ Enthusiasm: If God work not by them, they be vain and fruitless; and the idol is unlawful for this [reason], that ‘it profits not’.
Also, the Spirit’s action is either natural or supernatural here: If natural, it is a natural work, and a natural spirit, and to be rejected: If supernatural, we may devise means to produce supernatural effects: men’s ceremonies can produce supernatural joy, comfort, peace, and acts of grace purchased to us by Christs merit; this is a miracle.”
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pp. 142-143
“Also whatever is a profession in fact, of a false religion by ceremonies indifferent, and yet proper to a false religion, is a denying of the true religion; but the using of these ceremonies, used by Papists and Jews is such; Therefore…
The proposition [above] is Scripture, Gal. 2:14, Peter lived after the manner of the Jews in using the religious materials of the Jews, though he had no Jewish intention or opinion; yea, Acts 10, he disputes against that: So circumcision, Gal. 6:14-15, is put for the Jewish Church. Now altars, organs, Jewish ephods, or surplice, Mass-clothes, and Romish crossing, bowing to altars, images, are badges of Jewish and Popish religion:”
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George Gillespie
An Assertion of the Government of the Church of Scotland in the Points of Ruling-Elders... (Edinburgh: Bryson, 1641), ch. 3, p. 18
“As it [the Jewish Church] was Jewish, it had musicians to play upon harps, psalteries, cymbals and other musical instruments in the temple, 1 Chron. 25:1, concerning which, hear Bellarmine’s confession, de bon. oper., bk. 1, ch. 17. Justin says that:
‘the use of instruments was granted to the Jews for their imperfection: and that therefore such instruments have no place in the Church. We confess indeed that the use of musical instruments agrees not alike with the perfect and with the imperfect, and that therefore they began but of late to be admitted in the Church.'”
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John Cotton 1647
Singing of Psalms: a Gospel Ordinance, p. 5
“Objection: These gracious effects and fruits of singing Psalms, do plead as much for singing and playing with instruments, as for singing with voices.
Answer 1: This last effect of singing to the glory of God with our glory is peculiar only to singing with our tongues.
Answer 2: Suppose it were true that these effects of singing Psalms did plead as much for singing and playing with instruments, as singing with voices; yet evident it is that singing with voices had the preeminence, as that which uttering the Word of God did chiefly utter the Spirit of God breathing in it. And withal evident likewise it is that it is no impeachment to an ordinance that the outward dispensing of it may be performed by Nature and Art; but notwithstanding that it may be accompanied of God with a spiritual blessing.
Answer 3: Singing with instruments was typical, and so a ceremonial worship and therefore is ceased. But singing with heart and voice is a moral worship such as it written in the hearts of all men by Nature.”
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Edward Leigh
System of Divinity (1654), book 8, ch. 3, ‘Of Singing Psalms’, p. 610
“Not only Dr. Ames opposeth it, but Aquinas, Rivet, Zanchius, Zepperus, Altingius and others, dislike of organs and such like music in churches, and they do generally rather hinder edification.”
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Matthew Poole
Evangelical Worship is Spiritual Worship as it was Discussed in a Sermon (1660)
To the Reader
“…The reader will see that I only declared my dislike of organs in our churches, and therein I think I have better authority than those that are of another mind, forasmuch as in the Homily of the Place and time of Prayer (a book established and enjoined by the laws of the land) p. 131, they bring in some superstitious persons, complaining that they could not “hear the like piping, singing, chanting and playing upon the organs, that they could before”: To this is immediately answered thus; “But (dearly beloved) we ought greatly to rejoice and to give thanks to God, that our Churches are delivered out of those things which displeased God so sore, and filthily defiled his holy House”…”
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p. 17
“…considerable inconveniences, which follow from the introduction, affectation and imposition of a ceremonial way of worship under the Gospel…
2. There is a great obstruction to edification and the salvation of souls [due to the obstructing of spiritual worship and knowing God truly: spiritually as a Spirit]: Beloved, that man understands little of the worth of a soul, that does not value the salvation of one soul, before ten thousand of those unnecessary ceremonies. Better all the organs in the world broken, all material temples leveled with the ground, all sacred garments (as they are accounted) of ministers, cast into a fire, than one soul lost.”
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John Owen
A Brief Instruction in the Worship of God… (London: 1667), Question 14, ‘May not the Church find out and appoint to be observed such religious rites as being adjoined unto the celebration of God’s instituted worship, may farther the devotion of the worshippers, and render the worship itself in its performance more decent, beautiful and orderly…?’ pp. 57-58 This quote’s context does not specifically respect musical instruments.
“What natural, or carnal affections may be excited by them [ceremonies], as men may inflame themselves with idols, Isa. 57:5, or what outward, outside devotion they may direct unto or excite, is uncertain; but that they are no means of stirring up the grace of God in the hearts of believers, or of the increase or strengthening of their faith, which things alone God accepts in Gospel worship, seeing they are not appointed by Him for any such purpose, is most certain:
For to say that anything will effectually stir up devotion, that is, excite, strengthen or increase grace in the heart towards God, that is not of his own appointment, is on the one hand to reflect on his wisdom and care towards his Church, as if he had been wanting towards it in things so necessary, which He declares against, Isa. 5:4, ‘What,’ says He, ‘could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?’;
So on the other [hand], it extols the wisdom of men above what is meet to ascribe unto it. Shall men find out that which God would not, or could not, in matters of so great importance unto his glory and the souls of them that obey Him? yea, and it cannot be but that attendance unto them and their effects must needs divert the mind from those proper spiritual actings of faith and grace, which is its duty to attend unto.
And this is evidently seen in them who indulging to themselves in their observation in multiplied instances, as in the Church of Rome, have changed the whole spiritual worship of the Church, into a theatrical pompeous show of carnal devotion.”
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Annesley was a puritan. This is from Puritan Sermons, vol. 3.
Richard Cameron 1680’s
‘Lecture 2’ on Ps. 92, in Sermons Delivered in Times of Persecution in Scotland
“The Jewish way under the law of praising the Lord was upon the timbrel, the harp, psaltery, and ten-stringed instruments, and other instruments of music that belonged to ceremonial worship that is now abolished. Christ, who is the end of the law, has torn or taken away the ceremonies of the law, and there is no warrant now to make use of the organs, as they do in the Popish Church, and in the Prelatical Church of England, and even among them that are more reformed, those over in Holland.
Oh, but we have a great advantage in being free of these! But there are some in the other extreme, that are for no music at all, but we are to sing and praise vocally, and with the heart too. This reproves Quakers, who make a mock at singing of psalms. But we will let them see a fine ancient warrant for vocal music. “And be not drunk with wine… speaking to yourselves in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, making melody in your hearts to the Lord.”
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James Renwick †1688
Matthew Henry †1714
Cotton Mather †1728
Magnalia Christi Americana, or the Ecclesiastical History of New England, vol. 2, pp. 266-67
“Question.— Whether Instrumental Music may lawfully be introduced into the worship of God, in the Churches of the New Testament? Considered and answered in the following Conclusions:
I. The’ instrumental music used in the old church of Israel was an institution of God: it was (2 Chron. xxix. 25) the commandment of the Lord “by the prophets.” And the instruments are called “God’s instruments,” (1 Chron. xvi. 42,) and “instruments of the Lord,” (2 Chron. vii. 6). Now, there is not one word of institution in the New Testament for instrumental music in the worship of God. And because the holy God rejects all he does not command in his worship, He now therefore in effect says unto us, “I will not hear the melody of thy organs.” But on the other side, the rule given does abundantly intimate that no voice is now to be heard in the church, but what is significant and edifying, by signification; which the voice of instruments is not.
II. Tho’ instrumental music were admitted and appointed in the worship of God under the Old Testament, yet we do not find it practiced in the synagogue of the Jews, but only in the temple. It thence appears to have been a part of the ceremonial pedagogy, which is now abolished; nor can any say it was a part of moral worship. And, whereas the common usage now has confined instrumental music to cathedrals, it seems therein too much to Judaize; which to do is a part of the Anti-Christian apostasy, as well as to Paganize.
III. In our asserting a matter of the Old Testament to have been typical, ’tis not needful that we be always able to particularize any future mysteries of the New Testament therein referred unto; truths which were then of a present consideration, were sometimes represented in the types then used among the people of God, which helps to understand the case of instrumental music.
IV. Instrumental music in the worship of God is but a very late invention and corruption in the church of the New Testament. The writings that go under the name of Justin Martyr deny it and decry it. Chrysostom speaks meanly of it. Even Aquinas himself, about 400 years ago, determines against it, as Jewish and carnal. Bellarmine himself confesses that it was but late received in the church.
V. If we admit instrumental music in the worship of God, how can we resist the imposition of all the instruments used among the ancient Jews?—yea, dancing as well as playing, and several other Judaic actions? or, how can we decline a whole rabble of church-officers, necessary to be introduced for instrumental music, whereof our Lord Jesus Christ has left us no manner of direction?”
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Edwards, Jonathan
Sermon Notes on Col. 3:16 in Sermons, Series II, 1736 (WJE Online Vol. 51)
“As it [singing divine praises] a moral duty, so it is never abolished, but continues under the New Testament as well as the Old. Though their manner of praising with a great variety of musical instruments and the like is abolished as being suited to that dispensation, wherein was much more of outward pomp and ceremony, yet praising God with the music of the voice is moral and never was abolished.”
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John Gill
A Complete Body of Doctrinal & Practical Divinity, vol. 3, ‘Of Singing Psalms As A Part of Public Worship’ (London, 1796), p. 384
“5. It is observed, that David’s psalms were sung formerly with musical instruments, as the harp, timbrel, and cymbal, and organs; and why not with these now? If these are to be disused, why not singing itself? I answer, these are not essential to singing, and so may be laid aside, and that continue; it was usual to burn incense at the time of prayer, typical of Christ’s mediation, and of the acceptance of prayer through it; that is now disused; but prayer being a moral duty, still remains: the above instruments were used only when the church was in its infant-state, and what is showy, gaudy, and pompous, are pleasing to children; and as an ancient writer observes, “these were fit for babes, but in the churches (under the gospel-dispensation, which is more manly) the use of these, fit for babes, is taken away, and bare or plain singing is left.” As for organs… were first introduced by a pope of Rome, Vitalianus, and that in the seventh century, and not before.”
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Is it Lawful to Use Instruments to Practice Singing Psalms Better?
Samuel Rutherford
The Divine Right of Church Government... (1646), Intro, section 6, p. 89. Rutherford uses a different example, which applies to the question.
“But there is another intention not religious: if a child read a chapter of the Bible that he may learn to read and spell, that is an action of art, not of worship; because the object of the child’s reading is not Scripture as Scripture, but only the printed characters as they are, signa rerum ut rerum, non ut rerum sacrarum, ‘signs of things, not of holy things’;
And here the object, not being religious, the intrinsic operation cannot raise up any religious intention of the child. Upon this ground it is easy to determine whether or no[t] an intention of worship be essential to worship or not. The former intention, which is intrinsic, and intentio operis [the intention of the operation], may be essential, it resulting from the object; but the latter intention of the worker, is so far extraneous to worship, as whether it be or be not the nature of worship, [that it] is not impaired, nor violated.”
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Do Instruments in Worship Justify Separation from such Worship?
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“[Do not] let prejudice against melody, or church-music (if you dwell where it is used) possess you with a splenetic disgust of that which should be your most joyful work.”
Richard Baxter
Twenty Directions on How to Worship God, p. 221
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While it is wrong to use musical instruments in divine worship which God has not prescribed, most people do not have control, and hence responsibility, for their use therein.
If one does have responsibility for such, they ought to withdraw themselves from participating therein (as one ought never to knowingly sin) and to seek for its reformation according to the Word of God.
The puritans generally made a distinction, following what is found in Scripture, between wholesale idolatry and a corruption in worship. Actual idolatry is to be separated from; corruptions in worship are not to be personally done, but are to be suffered long with and are not grounds for separation from the church or its worship. Musical instruments in worship are of the nature of corruptions in worship, not actual idolatry.
Christians are morally obligated to attend the regular public worship of God with the Church on the Lord’s Day and to participate therein as much as possible (including offering the praise of the fruit of their lips to God, which is their individual responsibility). To not do this is separatism, schism, and not fulfilling one’s responsibilities to worship God and to honor Christ and his people.
Hence, one ought to never sin, but also to look over a multitude of sins in love, as God does, even in worship, as God does with us. If Christ does not separate Himself from his impure people and even their impure worship, but is amongst them even as He has promised, so should we be.
While there is the necessary (but often neglected) principle to stay long and work for reform where one is, yet, the Christian also has a lawful right and duty for the good of his own and his family’s spiritual health, and for the glory of God, to seek where he can worship God in the fullness of his appointed worship according to his Will. It is not enough to simply abstain from what is wrong, but one must also seek to do what is positively right and required by God insofar as they are able.
Hence, if, upon reasonably doing all that is within one’s power to reform, these attempts remain resisted and ineffectual indefinitely, it is natural and lawful to seek out a church that worships in more accordance with God’s Word, to the satisfaction of our souls. In doing so, one is not leaving Christ’s Church, but is removing from one part of the visible Church to another part of it. Samuel Rutherford, who is sometimes misunderstood on this point, affirms this (Due Right of Presbyteries, p. 73):
“The most that these [particular] arguments of our [separatist] Brethren do prove, is but that it is lawful to go, and dwell in a congregation where Christ is worshiped in all his ordinances, rather than to remain in that congregation where He is not worshipped in all his ordinances and where the Church censures are neglect∣ed, which to us is no separation from the visible Church, but [only] a removal from one part of the visible Church to another, as he separates not out of the house, who removes from the gallery, to remain and lie and eat in the chamber of the same house, because the gallery is cold and smokey, and the chamber not so, for he has not made a vow never to set his foot in the Gallery.”
Rutherford affirms this while (in what proceeds after this quote) he yet condemns (as should we) the separatist and pure-church principle that it is morally necessary to leave and separate from an impure local congregation, one not being able to have communion with it.
May God give you wisdom in seeking to honor Him above all. The few resources below may be of some light towards this end.
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Num. 15:22-26
“And if ye have erred, and not observed all these commandments, which the Lord hath spoken… even all that the Lord hath commanded you… then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet savor unto the Lord…
And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them; for it is ignorance: and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord, and their sin offering before the Lord, for their ignorance:
And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children of Israel, and the stranger that sojourneth among them; seeing all the people were in ignorance.”
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1 Pet. 4:8
“…for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”
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Westminster Confession, ch. 25
“IV. This catholic church hath been sometimes more, sometimes less visible.[h] And particular churches, which are members thereof, are more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed more or less purely in them.[i]
[h] Rom. 11:3,4. Rev. 12:6,14
[i] Rev. 2-3. 1 Cor. 5:6,7
V. The purest churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error;[k] and some have so degenerated, as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan.[l]…
[k] 1 Cor. 13:12. Rev. 2-3. Matt. 13:24-30,47
[l] Rev. 18:2. Rom. 11:18-22“
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James Harper 1883
“…there are some things which, though appointed by God and of intrinsic importance, do not so belong to the essence of an ordinance that their absence renders it utterly invalid…
Now in the sense indicated, instrumental music in worship is incidental, for we do not hold that its combination with vocal music renders the worship utterly void; yet we protest against its use as an unwarrantable element, and, on that account, a corruption of the worship.”
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Lytle, James – ‘Forbearance in Love. When Applicable?’ pp. 127-30 (1883) 4 pp. in Proceedings of the Convention of the United Presbyterians Opposed to Instrumental Music in the Worship of God
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Latin
1500’s
Zanchi, Girolamo – Commentarius in epistolam sancti Pauli ad Ephesios, pars altera ed. A.H. Hertog (Amsterdam:Joann Adam Wormser, 1889), on Eph. 5:19, p. 235
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1600’s
Zepper, Wilhelm – Bk. 4, ch. 9, ‘4th Commandment’, pp. 346-49 of An Explanation of the Judicial Laws of Moses… 2nd ed. (1604; Herborn,1614)
Alsted, Johann Heinrich – ‘Are Musical Organs Permitted in Church to Sing Psalms?’ in Polemical Theology, Exhibiting the Principal Eternal Things of Religion in Navigating Controversies (Hanau, 1620; 1627), Part 5, Class 4, On the Lord’s Prayer, pp. 647-48
Alsted, who was reformed, first gives a paragraph against organs in worship; then he gives a paragraph of arguments for organs in worship. Then he gives a long paragraph of 6 reasons against the reasons given for organs.
The reasons given for organs are very akin to arguments that one will hear today. His reasons against organs are Biblically detailed.
Rivet, Andrew – Catholicus orthodoxus, oppositus Catholico Papistae (Leiden: Abraham Commelin, 1630), 2.36.9-10, pp. 561-64
Various – Prudent Responses to the Author of the Dissertation on the Organ in the Confederated Churches of Belgium, in the order in which they were sent (Leiden: the Sons of Elzevir, 1641) Mostly in Latin, but contains some Dutch letters and one French letter towards the end.
This volume wholly consists of brief letters from big-name theologians of the day (mostly reformed) commending a certain author’s dissertation against organs in the Netherlands.
Alting, J. Henricus – Pt. 2, 3rd Controversy, ‘Of the Furnishing of Church Buildings. The Status of the Controversy is: In the Church Buildings of Christians, are Images to be Tolerated, or yet Ought Organs to be Added? They Affirm, We Deny.’ in A Syllabus of Controversies with the Lutherans in A Logical and Theological Exegesis of the Augsburg Confession with an Appendix of the Problems Involved (Amsterdam, 1647), pp. 278-281
Alting first gives the reformed view, giving three reasons against images. Then he gives three reasons against musical instruments. Alting then gives the Lutheran view. He lists four of their arguments for images, refuting each one by one. Then he lists two of their arguments for organs, refuting each in turn.
Voetius, Gisbert – ch. 3, ‘Of Organs & Instrumental Song in Sacred Things’ in Ecclesiastical Politics, vol. 1, book 2, tract 2, ch. 3, pp. 544-598
Outline
“Of musical song, we explicate I, the General Controversy, II. the Controversies of Significant Particulars, and III. some Practical Cases and Significant Problems.”
Section 1, pp. 544-46, “Things that occur in the principle controversy which ought to be clarified are: 1. Prolegomena, 2. Presuppositions Postulated & Conceded, 3. the State of the Question, 4. Arguments, and 5. Objections Solved.”
1. Prolegomena on Terms, including defining, 1. ‘song’, and 2. ‘instrument’. pp. 544-46
Section 2, Presuppositions & Concessions Posited, pp. 546-8
9 Presuppositions, pp. 546-7
8 Concessions, pp. 547-8
Section 3, State of the Controversy, “Now the state of the controversy is to be formed: it being rightly determined, the controversies will be able to be more easily determined. Hence it is queried whether instrumental music or an instrumental song, whether separate or mixed with vocal music, may be necessary or at least a useful part of the public worship in the Churches? or whether it may be a part or an act of religion, at least a condition, a requisite, a medium, or a support of religion to be exercised publicly or communally in the Churches of the New Testament, and that by the divine Law?”, p. 548
Conclusion, “We set forth with the reformed theologians that will be cited below, that instrumental music is not a fitting support, nor is it to be a part or addition to divine or ecclesiastical worship, whatever may be the use or toleration of it in various places which it heretofore obtains.”, p. 553
Section 4, Arguments, “Our arguments are partly direct, partly indirect.” pp. 553-
4 Direct Arguments, pp. 553-4
“Indirect arguments are partly from absurd consequences, and partly to the man [ad hominem].” p. 554
6 Indirect Arguments, pp. 554-55
5 Direct Arguments, pp. 555-58
“And these are our further arguments: We subjoin authorites and confessions, 1. of antiquity, 2. of a following, better intermediate age, 3. then of a most corrupt age unto the time of Reformation.”, pp. 558-62
“Now we respond to arguments of adversaries.” p. 562
1st Objection, pp. 562-69,
1st Exception, p. 563
2nd Exception, p. 564 7 Reasons
3rd Exception, p. 568
2nd Objection, out of Rev. 5:8 & 14:2, p. 569 7 Responses
3rd Objection, out of the song of Christians in the love-feasts, Eph. 5, Col. 3 & 1 Cor. 14:26, p. 570 3 Responses
4th Objection, p. 570
5th Objection, p. 572 13 Responses
6th Objection, p. 580 3 Responses
7th Objection, p. 580 3 Responses
8th Objection, ‘Because it is not intrinsically bad, nor does it have a deformity or indecorum.” p. 581
9th Objection, contra Lutherans, p. 582 3 Responses
10th Objection, from antiquity. p. 582
11th Objection, out of the custom now received in the Churches, that is, Roman, p. 583
12th Objection, because the Anglican Church retains it, p. 583 2 Responses
Section 5, Objections Solved regarding Ex. 15. p. 584 3 Exceptions Answered.
Section 6, “Further, to these principle controversies, I now add less principal ones: I lay out and briefly press those which were ventilated in 1641 in an academic exercise.” p. 584
1st Query, p. 584 12 Reasons
2nd Query, p. 586 6 Reasons, 2 Exceptions
3rd Query, p. 589
4th Query, p. 589 2 Responses, 3 Reasons
5th Query, p. 590 3 Reasons
“Problems now remain, to which in closing we respond thus…” 10 Problems, pp. 591-92
An Apologetic Appendix, p. 592
In August, 1634 Voet held a disputation at the entrance into his professorship at Utretch having proposed that Instrumental music is neither to be a part nor supplement to public worship. A shady, anonymous, Arminian-Socinian, fervent but an infelicitous fighter, put forth a short piece entitled, An Examination of the First Disputation, etc., not without the pomp of calumnies on him and his disputation, but especially upon religion and ‘our Church’. This appendix responds to that libel.
Hickman, Henry – pp. 138-143 of A Defense for the Ministers in England, Vulgarly called Non-Conformists, Ejected on Aug. 24, 1662, called Bartholomew’s Day… ([London?], 1664) ToC
Hickman (bap.1629-1692) was one of the ejected English puritans at 1662, and was some time pastor of the English church at Leyden.
Brown of Wamphray, John – p. 966, bot. of bk. 6, ch. 36, ‘Of the Public Exercises of the Lord’s Day’ in A Tract on the Cause of God Against the Anti-Sabbatarians, vol. 2 (Rotterdam, 1676),
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“And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.”
1 Chron. 15:16
“…David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals…”
1 Chron. 25:1
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Related Pages
The Regulative Principle of Worship